I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

In life everyone is affected by what they’ve experienced- be it for good or bad. Everything has a cause and effect, and how we react or behave can be greatly influenced by those whom we do and don’t choose to be in our life. A mother is not a choice we make, but is a choice the woman makes by making you a part of her life. Some are mothers by the natural birth of a child, and some are mothers by choosing to be so through the adoption of a child. By either means a woman has a great influence upon the future of a family, society , and ultimately, the world. Motherhood is not a calling; it is an assignment given by God. In accepting this assignment, a woman at one time or another may experience every emotion and feeling known in the world. This awesome assignment is only understood between one woman and another and is totally unexplainable. Paul shines a light on the effect two woman of the Bible had upon a young man named Timothy.

FAITH:
Faith is something that is lived and taught to children. Children will tend to imitate what they have seen. While faith is not something you just imitate, it is taught by how a person lives, and gives a foundation for the learning of faith. Lois, Timothy’s grandmother, and Eunice, his mother, were identified by Paul as two mothers who perpetuated faith in God by how they lived.

INDWELLING FAITH:
If faith is only imitated, then it is not a faith that will sustain you. It must be an indwelling faith that is evident in all situations. It is Godly values and trust planted/taught to a young child or to a new Christian that will grow that child or person in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 ESV Faith is expressed by how you live and gives evidence of Christ within you. Paul, when addressing Timothy, gave credit to his grandmother and mother for the evidence of faith he saw in him.

I AM SURE, DWELLS IN YOU AS WELL:
Timothy had to give evidence of that faith for himself. His mother or grandmother’s faith wasn’t going to carry him through. However, it was because of their faith that Paul was able to say, “I am sure, dwells in you as well.” Indwelling faith is a faith that will sustain you…. for indwelling faith is because of the Holy Spirit. No doubt there was thankfulness in Timothy’s heart for such a mother and grandmother that taught him and introduced him to the Holy Spirit and the saving Grace of God made possible by Jesus.

APPLICATION:
If you have a heritage of faith, be thankful for the mom or person who played that roll in your life. If you did not experience the blessing of such a heritage, be the one who will begin such a heritage by choosing a godly woman or being a godly woman— a woman who will give evidence of the faith and the grace of God, through His Son Jesus.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David